When Others Are Present: How Gender and Group Identification Shape Risk-Taking in Novice Gamblers?

Emerging adults are at elevated risk for gambling-related harm, even at low-level of engagement. This study examines how gender, group identification, and social presence interact to affect gambling intensity in novice gamblers. Participants included 48 males (Mage = 18.69, SD = 1.24) and 61 females (Mage = 18.46, SD = 0.74), with ages ranging from 17 to 23 years, were screened using the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale-Chinese Version. Group identification was manipulated using the Cyberball paradigm, and social presence was varied through either a virtual audience (videoconference) or simulated co-actor win announcements. Gambling intensity was assessed using multiple gambling indicators, including remaining chips, risk-taking index, average betting time, average betting size, and total betting size. Multivariate ANOVA revealed significant main effects of gender, along with a significant interaction between gender and group identification. Notably, males with high group identification demonstrated significantly greater gambling intensity-characterized by increased betting frequency, larger wagers and higher risk-taking-compared to those with low identification. In contrast, females showed little susceptibility to group identification. These findings highlight the differential impact of social identity on gambling behavior by gender, suggesting that prevention strategies for novice gamblers should specifically target social identification processes within gambling environments.